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Paul Hopkins (baseball)

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Paul Hopkins
Pitcher
Born: (1904-09-25)September 25, 1904
Chester, Connecticut, U.S.
Died: January 2, 2004(2004-01-02) (aged 99)
Middletown, Connecticut, U.S.
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
MLB debut
September 29, 1927, for the Washington Senators
Last MLB appearance
July 12, 1929, for the St. Louis Browns
MLB statistics
Games pitched11
Win–loss record1–1
Earned run average2.96
Strikeouts11
Teams

Paul Henry Hopkins (September 25, 1904 – January 2, 2004) was an American right-handed relief pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Washington Senators (1927, 1929) and St. Louis Browns (1929).[1]

Hopkins was born in Chester, Connecticut. His major league debut came on the same day that Babe Ruth hit his record-tying 59th home run on September 29, 1927. Hopkins said he did not know that he would be facing Ruth when he entered the game in the fifth inning with the bases loaded. He finished his career with a record of 1–1, 11 strikeouts, and a 2.96 earned run average in 11 games; he left St. Louis following the 1929 season after injuring a tendon.

Hopkins died in Deep River, Connecticut, at 99 years of age, having worked for the University of Illinois' RSC division for years. At the time of his death, he was the oldest living former major league player.[2]

Quotation

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"Then he (Babe Ruth) strolled out from the Yankee bench and walked up to the plate. I was not excited or awed." – Paul Hopkins in The Hartford Courant (1998).

References

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  1. ^ Zenardi, Pete. "Paul Hopkins". Society for American Baseball Research. Retrieved February 4, 2019.
  2. ^ Goldstein, Richard (January 6, 2004). "Paul Hopkins, Pitcher, 99, Oldest Living Major Leaguer". The New York Times. Retrieved February 4, 2019.
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Records
Preceded by Oldest recognized verified living baseball player
September 25, 2002 – January 2, 2004
Succeeded by